More Info →Otaki Maori Land Court Minutebook - 6 January 1880.

Description

Tuesday 6^th January 1880

Court opened at 10 am.

Present – the same

Hema Te Ao asked the court to allow Hoani Meihana to sit on the bench with the new Assessor as the claim of Rangiuru would be greatly contested.

James H. Wallace claimant had no objection.

Hoani Meihana was asked if he would sit in an honorary capacity and stated he would not receive any remuneration but if he liked to sit he could do so.

Meihana declined.

Taumanuaka – Hema Te Ao and others

Sketch map produced

Hema Te Ao – sworn

I belong to Ngati Raukawa and Ngati Toa.

This land was conquered by Ngati Toa from Ngati Apa, Muaupoko and others and was occupied by my tribes.

My fathers lived on the land in a pa called Rangiuru, part of which was inside this block and part outside. Another residence of his was Taumanuaka on this block. All his people lived there. My fathers also lived near Waitohu. My brother, Te Puke and Ngati Kauwhata lived on Mangapouri adjoining this land. They all lived on the land long prior to the Treaty of Waitangi. No one ever disturbed their occupation.

Ngati Raukawa lived on these lands in great numbers. There was two large fighting pa’s - One on the land and one on the other side of the river. There is a burial ground on Wallace’s claim which was set apart by all. Ngati Raukawa and one man cannot claim graves and pa’s as his own property.

I have cut out the parts where the dead are and the church (where it stood) for the whole tribe. Wallace’s claim includes all these.

My people dwelt on the land up to 1850. In 1851 or 2, the whole of this land was given to Bishop Hadfield by my fathers and no one objected to the gift. Rauparaha and Matini lived here at the time. They made no objection to the gift (letter from bishop Hadfield read). I have left out land for the tribe on this block inside the oblique line marked on the plan.

Objectors challenged.

W.D. 230 – a137 – r2 – p0

Hemi Wallace appeared with others.

James Howard Wallace (h.c) – sworn

The land shown on the plan is mine. The plan marked W.D 233 – (a45 – r0 – p0) is my claim also.

Ngati Raukawa have a claim to the land I have surveyed. I claim on behalf of all the tribe. The large pa and the dead are left outside my surveys.

I and my mother and my sister lived on the land last. I was about 12 years old then. I claim through Horohau, Rauparaha, Matini and others.

Rauparaha brought Ngati Raukawa here and they generally dwelt on this land in the pa which site I have cut out of my survey.

I have no more to say. My witnesses can prove his title.

Tamihana Te Hoia – sworn

I belong to Ngati Huia and I have a title to this land.

Rangiuru is the name of the piece cut out by Wallace and all Ngati Raukawa lived on it. Heu Heu and others of Waikato used to live in that pa. When Haowhenua was fought, it was occupied by Ngati Raukawa.

The court should go out on the ground and see if the portions had been cut out as mentioned.

Xed by Hema Te Ao

Ngati Raukawa will not consent to the sites of the pa’s being given to James Wallace.

Piwhiki Hapi – sworn

I am Ngati Toa on my mother’s side and Ngati Raukawa on my fathers.

Horohau and Rauparaha came on this land when Ngati Toa came. From the time Ngati Toa conquered this land, my grandfather lived on this land. Horohau put in a peg in the North West corner of Taumanuaka and called it after himself and it has never been disturbed.

Hema never gave this land to the bishop. He gave his own which he had a right to do. Hema Te Ao’s people lived at Mangapouri not on Taumanuaka.

This all I have to say.

Xed by Hema Te Ao

This land and Wairarapa were the only land belonging to Horohau that I know of.

Court adjourned in order to go on the ground and determine certain sites of pa’s etc.

Identification